Label affixing machine



Feb. 2, 1937. e. N. HANSON 2,059,245

LABEL AFFIXING' mcnnm Filed Dec. 7,. 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l/vvzwro e Glen IV. Hanson BY 1%.: ATTORNEY-S 2, 1937- G. N. HANSON LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m. M m H u. a? m R 3 a o2 Q a 1 I .119, a a r a m 2 Q Na 1 u J 8 QTQL PWQQW Rm $21: Ni E n NN r Ta 3 a S v .0 N N flow o I a v O 3 a 2 i w 9% w @m R N m .R Q Q w 2 E o w r l E J a a U R m: g E E fia a M a i N mfi Feb. 2, 1937. G. N. HANSON LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Dec. '7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 n m w M Q N. m m m mm N 3 Q 7% 7/ MN m 3* may o E o E g a 5 m a g E E W a QR v E Q mi 3 mi .x NM. NF R A \a v a a E a, 37 N Q Ta 3 E 1: 0 O Y v T \5 9 5 J o Q 3 S X i O K x QTK x bw o .l a Lil H3 l N am 9% PM A N N2 R a m E 2 E ma 331 a 3 a mm a x a a s. g a h cm 2 m mE 2 Feb. 2, 1 7- G. N. HANSON 2,059,246

v PABEL AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l/vws/vrae Glen IV. Hanson BY H/s ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,069,246 LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE Glen N. Hanson, Minneapolis, Minn. Application December 7, 1934, Serial No. 756,386

4 Claims.

My invention has for its object the provision of a highly emcient machine for aiiixing labels to bottles, boxes, cans and other objects.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking at the improved machine from the front;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the improved machine; i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in transversevertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in longitudinal horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary detail view with some parts sectioned on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in section taken on the line 'i-I of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 8 is a. detail view with some parts sectioned substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 9 is a view principally in transverse section taken on the line 9-8 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale; I I

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view with some parts sectioned on the line Iii-l0 of Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale;

- on the line i3-I3 of Fig. 5; a

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the 'label holder and tragmentarily illustrating the label pick-up and applying head, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 12 is a left-hand elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 11;

1 Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail view principally in side elevation with the drive shaft sectioned Fig, 19 is a detail view showing a slight modification of the way; and.

Fig. 20 is a detail view principally in section taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19.

The main frame of the improved machine is indicated as an entirety by the numeral 2!, with the exception of two top longitudinal channel members 22, the flanges of which extend horizontally toward each other. Mounted on the frame 2i between and above the channel members 22 is a bed comprising a channel member 23, the flanges of which extend vertically upwardly, and a relatively wide flat plate 24 supported on said flanges and rigidly secured thereto. Supported on the bed 24 is a pair of long laterally spaced track rails 25. On the outer edges of the rails 25 is a plurality of apertured ears 26 that are frictionally clamped onto the bed 24 by hand-screws 21. These screws 21 extend through the apertured ears 26 and transverse slots 28 in the bed 24. -0bviously, the screws 21 and slots 28 permit the rails 25 to be independently adjusted relative to each other to 'vary the width therebetween for holding bottles X of different transverse shapes and widths. The bottles X are laid on the bed 24 between-the rails 25 which hold the same for straight line endwise sliding movement. In placing the botties X on the bed 26 their bottoms are turned toward the discharge end of the machine or, in other words, the right-hand end of the machine with respect to a person facing the same at the front thereof and with the bottles engaglngthe one with the other in a row. This row of hotties X is moved by pressure applied to the last bottle placed on the bed 24, as will hereinafter appear.

' A reciprocatory carriage 29, having a laterally and horizontally projecting arm 30, is provided for successively imparting step by step endwise movement to the row of bottles X. This carriage 29 includes a vertical frame 3| and upper and lower truck wheels 32 arranged to run on the upper and lower flanges of the rear frame member 22 with said frame outwardly of said member. It will be noted that the truckwheels 32 are in triangular arrangement, two of which are on the upper flange of the respective frame member 22 and the other of Will in is on the lower flange of saidframe member. see Figs. 2 and 10. 5

The arm-llL'which extends above the rails 5 and transversely thereof, has an expanded upin the row, a. distance equal to the full length of one of said bottles. Said arm 38 is pivoted to a bracket 33 on the frame 23 for horizontal swinging movement toward the receiving end of the rails 26. A flat spring 31, anchored to the bracket 33, normally holds the arm 33 with sumcient force to move the row of bottles x on the rails 25, but in case the movement of said row of bottles is stopped by an obstruction the spring 34 will yield and permit the arm 33 to swing clear of the engaged bottle X and thereby prevent damage to the machine.

A guard plate 35 is securedto the rear rail 26 on the outer side thereof and at a point where thebottles X are successively placed on the rails 25. This guard plate 35 is provided with a longitudinal slot 36 through which the arm 38 loose- 1y works. f

Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the carriage 28 from a drive shaft 31 by an upright lever 38, the upper arm 'of which isconnected to the frame of said carriage by a short horizontal link 39 and the lower arm of which is connected by a horizontal pitman 48 to a crank ll on the rear end of the shaft 31. The drive shaft 31 extends transversely of the frame 2! and is journaled in bearings on said frame. The lever 38 is pivoted to a bracket 42 on the frame 2! and the link 39 is adjustably connected to the frameof the carriage 29 by anut-equipped bolt 43 which extends through a horizontal slot 44 in said frame. Obviously, by adjusting the link 36 :rela-: tive to the carriage 29, the position to which the bottles X may be successively moved, relative to a label-applying head, on' the rails 25 bythe arm 38, may be varied, at will.

The pitman It is adjustably connected to the lever. 38 by a nut-equipped bolt 46 which extends through a longitudinal slot 46 in said lever. Obviously, by adjusting the pitman 48 relative to the pivotalconnection of the lever 38, the length of travel of said carriage 23 may be varled, at will. This adjustment is necessary to accommodate themachine to bottles of diiferent l ngths. The "drive shaft 31 is driven direct om an electric motor. 41, the armature shaft of which is connected to said drive shaft by a coupling 48. Said motor 41 is mounted on a support 48 rigidly secured to the-frame 2! at the front of 'the'machine. I The improved machine is provided with a label holder 50 which, as shown, is a flattable supported on the-upper end of an upright post 6i whichworks through an aperture in a shelf '62 on a supplemental frame mounted-on the outer face of the front frame member 22 for vertical sliding movement. Said supplemental frame 53 is secured, to the front frame member 22 by a clamping hand-screw 54 whichextendsi through a vertical slot 66 in said supplemental frameand has screw-threaded engagement withthe respective frame member ,22. It will be noted. by reference to Fig. 3, that the'lntermediate portion-ofj-the front'frame member 221s inwardly-- ofl'set a'sj indicatedxby the numeral 66. and intowhichjofl'set portion the supplementalframe 53 fits thereby holds -said frame for vertical straight line sliding movement and against pivotal movement on the hand-screw I3. 7o s -h is end"onone end of. a long horizdhtally disposed bar 51.; votallyattachedat'itsother sustain supple, ntal frame 53 ,by a shortdepending plvfi. otal ll'nk 53 ,Thebar 511s intermediately and s pp r d br coiled e es .5

j pivotally, supported atits oya- 'chored to the supplemental frame53 by a thumbnut-equipped adjusting screw 60 held in an apertured lug 6| on said frame. This spring 59 is under strain to lift the post and hence, the label holder 50. By adjusting the screw 68 the tension of the'sprlng 59 may be varied, at will.

A pawl 62 and co-operating ratchet teeth 63, v the latter of which is on the post 5| are provided for normally holding the label holder 58 against lifting movement by the spring 59. The pawl 62 is fixed toone end of a short rock-shaft 64 journaled in depending bearings 65 on the underside of a shelf 52. Said rock-shaft 64 is intermittently operated by an upright trip rod 66 which works in a sleeve bearing 61 on the shelf 52 and is pivoted at its lower end to an arm 68 fixed to the other end of the rock shaft 64. Said pawl 621s yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet teeth 63 by a coiled spring ,69 which encircles the trip rod 66 and is compressed between the hearing 61 .and a collar on said trip rod. On the other end of the trip rod 66 is a radially pro jecting finger H, for a purpose thatwill preswhich bears'o'n the periphery of a cam wheel 81 keyed to the drive shaft 31. Y

downwardly and hold the lever-84 roller- 88 lifted into engagement wheel 31 at the under surface thereof, see Fig. 3.

onto the uppermost label Y; secon headwith the label;-,third, to lower one.; of--the bottles X and apply the ently appear.

A stack of labels Y are held centered on the table 58 by a plurality of upright rods 12 grouped about the post 5|. These rods 12, at their lower ends, extend. through slots and deep notches 13 in the shelf 52 and are heldin upright positions by upper and lower collars 14. These slots and notches 13 extend radially from the axis of the post 5! and the collars 14 have'working fit with the upper and lower surfaces of the shelf 52 and thereby frictionally hold the rods 12wliere set; Said rods 12 also extend through deep radial notches 15in the table 50 and hold said table and the post 5| against turning movement about the axis of said post. On the right-hand end of the supplemental frame 53 is a scale 16 and fixed to the front frame member 22 is a, co-operating pointer 11. By the use of the scale 16 and the pointer 11, the supplemental. frame 53 may be raised or lowered predetermined distances.

bearing 82 on the frame 2i for compound, endwise sliding movement and turning movement about its axis. On the lower end of the shaft 88 is a head 83 having a spherical under surface which rests on one arm of a lever-84 intermediately fulcrumed to a bearing 85,011 the frame 2i and on the other arm of said lever is a cam roller 86 A coiled spring 88, encircling the shaft 88, is compressed between the lower bearing 82- and the headf83 and is under-strain to move the shaft 88 with its cam with the cam wheel 81 is, adapted first, to lower the suction head 18, from its position shown in Fig. 11,

said head over label thereto;

.and finally. to lift the head 18 from said bottle.

oscillatoryswinging movement 18, from its position shown in Fig. 3 to a 7 of the suction at; liftsaid to its position over the stack of labels Y, is accomplished by a toothed segment 89 and a cooperating rack 90, the former of which is keyed to v the shaft 80 with freedom for said shaft to move endwise through said segment.

The rack 90 is secured to a bar 9| mounted in bearings 92 on the frame 2| and the segment 89 is held against axial movement withthe shaft 80, during the endwise movement of said shaft, by the lower bearing 82 and a stop plate 93 on the bar 9| and which bearing and stop plate engage the upper and lower surfaces of said segment respectively. The rack 90 is reciprocated by a cam wheel 94 and a co-operating cam roller 95 journaled on the .bar 9|.

The cam wheel 94 is fixed to the drive shaft 31 and the-stroke imparted to the rack 90, when moved by the cam wheel 94 toward the receiving end of the machine, is such as to swing the arm 19 from a position in which the suction head 18 is directly over the stack of labels Y to a position in which said head is directly over one of the bottles X on the rails 25 and properly positioned to apply a label to said bottle. During the return movement of the rack 90, in which it is moved toward the delivery end of the machine by the cam wheel 94, the arm 19 moves the suction head 18 from its label-applying position to its label pick-up position.

Referring again to the label holding table 50 and in respect to the operation of the pawl 62, it will be noted, by reference to Fig. 12, that the finger H on the trip rod 66 extends transversely under the arm 19 when said arm is set to position the suction head 18 over the stack of labels Y. Each time the cam wheel 81 moves the arm 19 downwardly, when in a label-pick-up position, it positions the suction head 18 on the uppermost label Y in the stack on the table 50. During this movement of the arm 19 it engages the underposition to again hold the table 50 against the lifting action of the spring 59.

' on the main frame 2I.

- Suction is intermittently produced in the suction head 18 by a pump 96 driven from an electric motor 91 by a belt 98 and the control switch to said motor is designated by the numeral 99. The pump 96 is mounted on-a support I-attached to the main frame 2|, at the receiving end of the machine, and the motor 91 is mounted on the main frame 2|. A vacuum tank ml is mounted on the main frame 2| at the receiving end of the machine and is connected to the pump 96 by a hose I02. The vacuum tank IN is provided with the valve I05, at the time the picked-up label is a pipe I04 on the outer end of which is the casing of an oscillatory valve I05 and which valve casing is connected by a hose I06 to the tubular arm 91. The valve I05 is operated by a cam I01 and a cooperating cam roller I01 journaled on a lever I08 intermediate of its ends.

One end of the lever I08 is pivoted to the main frame 2| and its other end is connected by a long link I09 to an arm IIO on the stem of the valve I05. The cam I01 is fixed to a counter-shaft II journaled in bearings on the main frame 2| and which shaft is driven by bevel gears II2 from the drive shaft 31. The timing of the cam I01 is such as to open the valve I05 to produce suction in the head 18, at the time it is lowered onto the uppermost label Y on the stack and pickup said label. Said cam I01 is also timed to close a gauge I03. Leading from the vacuum tank IOI is applied to a bottle by the head 18, and release said label.

During the movement of the suction head 18 from its label pick-up position to its label-applying position, it is carried over an upright liquid spraying head I I3 for spraying the underside or back of a label, held by the suction head 18, with liquid, to wit: glue, provided the label has not previouslybeen supplied with glue, or with water to moisten a label having glue on its back at the time it is placed on the table 50.

The spraying head I I3 includes an air nozzle I I4 and a liquid nozzle II5, the latter of which is within the mixing chamber of the air nozzle H4 and axially aligned with said nozzle. Air is delivered into the mixing chamber of the air valve I I4 from a compression tank 6 through a pipe I I1 leading from said tank to an intake chamber I IS in avalve casingI I 9 secured to themain frame 2| by a bracket 9'. A hose I20 connects an air chamber I 2| in the valve casing I I9 with the mixing chamber of the air valve I I4. A port I22 connects the two chambers H8 and I2I and a vent I23 in the valve casing I I9 leads from the chamber I2| to atmosphere.

Mounted in the two chambers H8 and HI are two slide valves I24 and I25, respectively. An L-shaped port I26 in the valve I24 affords a communicating passageway from the chamber IIB to the port I22 in one extreme position of the valve and to close the chamber II6 to the port I22 in the other extreme position of said valve.

A T-shaped port |21.in the valve I25 aflords a communicating passage that connects the port I22 to the chamber I23 in one extreme position of said valve and at which time thevalve I25 closes the vent/I23. In the other extreme position of the valve I25 the port I21 aifordsa com municating passageway fromthe chamber I2I to the vent I23 and at which time the valve I25 closes the port I22.

The slidevalves I28 and I25 are simultaneously but reversely operated by a lever I28 intermediately fulcrumed to the underside of the valve casing II9 and on which lever the lower ends of the valves I24 and I25 loosely rest, one on each side of said fulcrum. Journaled on one end of the lever I28 is a cam roller I29 which is yieldingly held on the periphery of the cam wheel I30 by a coiled spring I3I attached to the other end of the lever I28 and anchored to the valve casing H9. The cam wheel I30 is provided with a pair of adjustable segmental plates I32 for varying the timing of the valves I24 and I25. Said cam wheel Ittis mounted on the counter-shaft iii and I keyed thereto.

The liquid nozzle M5 is normally closed byan valve casing MS as the hose I28,'leads to the spraying head II3and has communication with the cylinder I above the piston I 34 through a port I38 in said spraying head.

Air to the nozzle 4 and to thecylinder I35 is controlled by the same means, to wit: the valves I24 and I25. The pipe II1 between the compression tank H6 and the valve casing II 9 is provided with a presser gauge I39 and a relief valve I40. A cut-off valve MI is interposed in the pipe II1 between the compression tank H6 and the gauge I39 and the valve I40.

Mounted on the front frame member 22 is a glue supply tank I42 and a water supply tank I43 and which tanks have communication, the one with the other, above the level of liquid therein through a short air pipe I44. The liquid in the tanks I42 and I43 is held under pressure by air from the compression tank II6.

A branch air pipe I45, leading'from the pipe H1, is tapped into the water supply tank I43 substantially at the same level as the pipe l44. Glue and water are conveyed from the supply tanks I42 and I43, respectively, through hose connections I 46 and I 41,.respectively, to a chamber in a common valve casing I48. Said valve casing I48 is attached to the spraying head M3 and its chamber has communication with the chamber in the liquid nozzle II5 through a port I in said head.

Mounted in'the valve casing I48 are two cut-oil valves I50 and I 5| for independently opening or closing the connections to the hose I46 and I41,

- respectively. It is, of course, understood that one of the valves I50 or I5I is always closed while the other one is open, depending upon whether glue or wateris being supplied to the spraying head]! IS.

The row of bottles X'onthe rails 25 remainsstationary while a label Y is being applied to one of the bottles X in said row and said row of hottles continues to remain stationary until the suction head 18 has applied a label to the bottle and moved away from the same and thereafter the applied labelis pressed onto the bottle by a presser head I52. This head I52 has anupstanding stem I53 mounted in a bearing arm I54 on a cross-head I55 mounted on a pair of guide posts I56 anchored to the rear frame member 22 and which posts are tied together in parallel arrangement by a plate I51.

' The arm I54 isdetachablysecured to the crosshead I55 by a hand-nut equipped bolt I55 and the stem I53 is adiustably secured to the arm I54 for axial turning movement and endwise sliding movement by a set-screw I59. Applied to the underside of the presser head I52 is a thickfacing I60 of sponge rubber for direct contact with a label and a bottle to which said label is applied. The head I52 and facing I6!)v are V- shaped in cross-section to fit more closely over link I8I.

will yield and closely fit around a bottle and applied label and apply pressure to the label over its entire area. The cross-head I55 is reciprocated by a lever I6I intermediately fulcrumed at I62 to the main frame 2|. A link I63 pivotally connects one end of the lever I6I to the"crosshead I55 and a counter-weight IN is secured to the other end of said lever.

The lever I6I is actuated by a cam wheel I 65' and a co-operating cam roller I66, the former of which is'keyed to the drive shaft 31 and the latter of which is journaled on the lever I 6i intermediate of the fulcrum I62 and the link I63.

When the presser head I52 is lifted from a bottle, said bottle is given thereafter three more successive steps of movement by the arm 30 and each 1 of said movements, as previously stated, is equal to the full length of one of the bottles During each rest period between the next three steps of movement of a bottle from the position in which the label was pressed thereon by the head I 52, said label is successively pressed onto the bottle first. by a presser head I61, identical with the Dresser head I52, and second and finally by flexible sheets I68 01 any suitable material. The flexible sheets I68 in addition to pressing a label on a bottle also transversely smooth the same from its center toward its outer/,edges.

The stem and facing of the'presser head I61 are designated by the nume'rals I69 and I10, respectively. Each sheet I68 isfsecured at its ends to one of the ends of a pairof wide fingers I1I intermediately fulcrumed to a presser head I12 and the other end of each finger III is yieldingly connected by a coiled spring I13 to said head. Each head I12 is securedto the lower end of a stem I14 and the two stems I14 aremounted, as well as the stem I69, each in an arm I15 to which they are adjustably secured by set-screws. I16. The arms I15 are detachably and adjustably secured by hand-nut equipped bolts I11 which extend through a horizontal slot I18 in a cross-head I19 mounted on a pair of guide posts I80 anchored to the rear frame member 22. The slot I18 permits the arms I15 to be adjusted toward or from each other and toward or from the arm I54 to position the pressure devices for bottles of different lengths. I

The cross-head I1! is reciprocated by a .lever I8I intermediately mounted on the same fulcrum as the lever IBI, to'wit: I62, and a link I32 connects one end of the lever IN to the cross-head I19 and aeounter-weight I83is secured to the other end of the lever IBI. Said lever I6I is oscillated by a cam wheel I34 and a co-operating camroller I85, the former of which is keyed to the drive shaft 31 and the latter of which is journaled on the pivot connecting said shaft tov the A keeper I36 on the mainframe 2| holds the link I82 for straight endwise movement. After a bottle has been moved from under the last presser head I12, it slides down an apron I81, on the delivery end of the machine, and onto mounted on the rear frame member 22.

In Fig. 18 a. label Y is being applied to the transverse concave side of a bottle, Z and to efliciently apply this label a modified presser head IN is used; This head I94 horizontally flat and its sponge rubber facing I 92 is also fiat. Obviously, the facing I92 will form itself over. the peculiarly shaped face of the bottle Z and press the label Y thereon.

To apply labels to tapered bottles Z as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, it is desirable to support such bottles on the bed 26 with their upper surfaces substantially parallel to said bed. To accomplish this result, pairs of-longitudinally spaced wedge-like blocks E93 are provided for the bottle Z when placed in the row on the bed 24. The

blocks I93 are detachably secured to the rails 25 by pins I96 that project into holes in said rails.

Operation The operation of the improved machine may be briefly described as follows: Bottles are successively placed on the bed 2 between the rails 25, either by hand or by a suitable feed device, not shown, and with the capped ends of the bottles turned toward the receiving end of the ma chine. The delivery of a bottle to the machine is at the time the arm I9 is in its rearmost position so that the bottle will be forward thereof. Labels to be applied to the bottles are placed on the table and held as previously described.

During each cycle of operation of the machine, which occurs during each rotation of the drive shaft 31, the row of bottles X is given a step by step movement on the bed 24, the arm 19 is moved first from its position shown in Fig. 11, downwardly to permit the suction head it! to pick up the uppermost label Y; second, it is raised and swung laterally to position said head over one of the bottles; third, the arm I9 is lowered to apply the label to the respective bottle; and

fourth, said arm is raised and swung laterally to.

its original position, as shown in Fig. 11. During this movement of the arm I9 the valve II. is opened to permit partial vacuum in the tank IN to produce suction inthe head I8 and thereby pick up a label and then said valve is closed to release the label when applied to the bottle. At

the time the arm I9 is being swung from a position in which the head-18 isin a label pick-up position to a label-applying position, the valves I24-I25 are operated to cause air to flow to the nozzle H3 and either glue or water to fiow to the spraying nozzle H5, depending on which valve 'I5|l--I5I is open, and thereby spray the underside of the label held by the head I8. After the head I8 has been moved away froma bottle, to

which a label has been applied, the head I52 isdepressed and its yielding face presses the label onto the bottle. I

During the next three cycles the label is firmly pressed ontothe bottle and smoothed first by-the yielding face on the head I61 and thereafter by the two flexible sheets I58 on the heads I12. By spraying glue onto a label just prior to its application to a bottle, very little glue is required to securely hold the label.

Referring again to the suction head or cup I8,

the same is surrounded by an annular pressure foot 18' having a horizontally disposed flat annular ring carried by a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms on'a collar secured to the arm I9. This pressure foot I8 is spaced from the head 18 to permit free movement of said head therein. It is important to note that normally of the machine,

the bottom of the pressure foot I8 is below the bottom of the head I8 so that at the time the arm I9 is being lowered to permit the suction head 18 to pick up the uppermost label Y on the stack, said pressure foot will engage the stack 5 first and at the marginal portion thereof and thereby compress said stack causin the central portions of the labels to bulge upwardly witharticle holder, a label holder, an upright post mounted for compound endwise movement and turning movement about its axis and having a 20 radial arm, a suction head on the arm for picking up a label on the label holder and applying the same to an article on the article holder, means for successively producing suction in said head for a predetermined period of time, means for turning the post to alternately position the suction head relative to the label holder and the article holder, a spring under strain to move the post downwardly, cam-actuated means for lifting the post at predetermined intervals against the 30 tension of said spring, a no e for .sPraying a label picked up by said head th a liquid during the movement of the arm from the label holder to the label applying position of the suction head, and means for opening and closing the nozzle in 35 timed relation to the cam-actuated means.

2. A machine of the class described having a longitudinal way for slidably holding a plurality of articles in a row in which they directly engage the one with the other, a label holder, movable 40 means for picking up a label on the label holder and applying the same to one of the articles in the row, means operative on the last article placed in the row for intermittently moving the row a step forward corresponding to the length of one 45 of the articles in the row, whereby the articles are successively positioned in predetermined po- .sition relative to the movable means when in a 3. In a label-applying machine, the combination with means for feeding articles in a row, a label holder-laterally remote from said row, a label pick up and transfer device arranged to, pick up the labels one at a time from said holder and to. carry the same edgewise to an article in the row, and means operative at an angle to the 0 label-delivery movement for pressing the came onto the article, said label-carrying and pressing devices'being independent elements, the latter being operative to press the label after the labelcarrier has moved from the delivery position.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in further combination with means for further pressing the labels onto the articles after the latter have been moved from label-receiving positions.

' GLEN N. HANSON. 

